Basketball seniors leave unmistakable legacy

With the men’s and women’s basketball teams losing in the opening weekend of the 2023 National Tournament, four Lady Flames and two Flames ended their Lee careers.

The result is not indicative of their impact on the respective programs, proven by their career stats.

LADY FLAMES

Macy Woodworth set the example for the program from her first day on campus — for four years, Woodworth was the “hype-woman” when she wasn’t on the floor, and carried a leading voice when she was in the game.

On the hardwood, Woodworth took her game to a new level this season. She averaged career-highs in points per game (8.7), rebounds per game (4.7), and field goal percentage (65%). Teams began to adjust their game-plan around Woodworth’s impact in the post, and her hard work for three years paid off in her final season.

“I’m just grateful,” Woodworth said after the Lady Flames’ final game. “I really don’t think there’s been anything in my life I’ve learned more from (than being a Lady Flame).”

Woodworth’s roommate and friend, Morgan Carbaugh, also saw her Lee career come to a close this season. Carbaugh was a consistent sharpshooter for the Lady Flames throughout her tenure, knocking down 75 threes in her 106 games played.

Carbaugh was able to provide a spark for the Lady Flames off the bench in her first three years, but started in 31 of the team’s 33 games this season. She posted a career-high 19 points in the team’s victory over Johnson this season.

After their final game of the year, Carbaugh spoke highly of the program’s dedication to living out expectations on and off the court. “I’ve realized that being a Lady Flame is more about who you are as a person more than who you are on the court,” she told reporters.

Hannah Garrett transferred to Lee from Tennessee Tech in 2020, and quickly found her place on and off the court for the Lady Flames.

“When I first got here, not a single person knew me, but they treated me as their own right out of the gate,” Garrett said. “This group of girls are like my sisters, and I think you can see that in how we play.”

Garrett made an immediate impact for the Lady Flames, providing a post player that could “space the floor” and shoot threes. She knocked down 108 threes in her three seasons, and shot a scorching 39% from behind the arc this year.

Haley Schubert is the fourth and final Lady Flame to depart from the program this year. After a historic career, it is widely assumed that Schubert will soon see her jersey in the rafters of Walker Arena.

Schubert was given the “reigns” of the program early in her career, and never backed away from the role of leadership on the team.

In her illustrious five-year career, Schubert finished second in points (2,284), third in assists (521), and 22nd in rebounds (536). She was just the fourth player in program history to reach the 2,000 point mark.

Schubert won Gulf South Freshman of the Year in the 2018-19 season, and was on the Gulf South First Team the four years following.

Coach Marty Rowe shared perspective after his 17th season as the leader of the program ended.

“What you do, off the court and how you handle yourselves … these four taught me a lot,” Rowe said.

“Macy and Morgan grew into roles, they were patient, and you can see what they turned themselves into. Hannah came in and played a vital role for us right away, and accepted a new role this year. It tells you so much about her. Haley … changed our program. Five years ago, we were good. We became great because of her,” he said.

FLAMES

Michael McGuirk committed to Lee in January 2017, becoming one of Bubba Smith’s first commits in his Lee tenure.

McGuirk battled through several injuries to put together a successful six-year-career in the maroon and white, eclipsing 1,000 career points earlier this year. His toughness on the glass and strong shot creation at all three levels was a staple of the program in his six years.

He finished his career with 1,079 points, 484 rebounds, and 120 three-pointers made.

“I’ve been here for a while, so this is hard for me. You know, it’s really just my teammates, and my coaches — it’s a family here,” McGuirk said. “Everybody loves everybody. It’s just been a pleasure being able to play with these guys. We’ve built something special here.”

Five of McGuirk’s six years with the program were spent playing with Jayce Willingham, who also wraps up his time with the Flames this year.

Willingham caught the eyes of Lee fans early in his career with his dunking ability — the way he flew through the air captivated the Walker Arena crowd many times. He averaged double digits in three of the four seasons he saw action for Lee, leading the Flames in scoring with 16 points per game this year.

“My teammates and coaches have put me in the right position. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. It’s been a journey … I’m just so glad to be a part of this, what we’ve done,” Willingham said after the game.

Willingham became the 33rd player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points earlier this year.

“These two guys have meant so much to our program. We wouldn’t be here today without these two guys — they brought our program to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four years,” Coach Bubba Smith said after the game. “I’m really proud of these two. They’ve been through surgeries, missed games, but these guys keep fighting and competing. They model for our team with the type of people they are.”

The impact of the six graduating seniors has certainly been felt.